Merseyside, it’s time to count the wildlife that’s counting on you

Tuesday 17 January 2017

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 28-30 January 2017

The countdown has commenced for the world's biggest garden wildlife survey - and more people in Merseyside than ever before are being called upon to take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, running 28, 29 and 30 January 2017.

The public are asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds and other wildlife in their garden or local public space, then send their results to the RSPB. As the world's largest garden wildlife survey, now in its 38th year, more than half a million people are expected to take part in 2017.

In response to many requests over the years, and for the first time in its history, people will also be able to take part on the Monday, extending the birdwatch to three days. It is hoped this will allow even more people to spend an hour counting the birds in their park or garden, adding to the snapshot of how they are doing.

To help prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch, there are plenty of events taking place in Merseyside this January - from discovering how to attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the creatures that live on your doorstep.

On Saturday 28 January, join volunteers from RSPB Liverpool Local Group at Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool from 12-4 pm where they'll be counting the birds in the park along with providing information, hints and top tips on how to participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch.

Also on Saturday 28 January, over in Calderstones Park in Liverpool, meet RSPB staff from 10 am-4 pm. They'll be on hand with Big Garden Birdwatch themed activities and information on how to take part.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist said: "With over half a million people now regularly taking part, coupled with over 30 years worth of data, Big Garden Birdwatch allows us to monitor trends and helps us understand how birds are doing. With results from so many gardens, we are able to create a 'snapshot' of the birds visiting at this time of year across the UK. Even if you see nothing during your Big Garden Birdwatch hour, that's important information too, so please let us know."

As well as counting feathered friends, the RSPB is once again asking participants to log some of the other wildlife they see in their gardens and green spaces such as grass snakes, hedgehogs, stag beetles, stoats and moles.

Daniel added: "The threats to our wildlife means that it's facing tough times. For example it is estimated that we've lost more than half of our hedgehogs in the last 50 years. We're going to include this part of the survey every year now, enabling us to monitor the distribution of other wildlife as well as trends in bird numbers."